Leverage Your DVI and Drive More Revenue – Craig O’Neill [RR 794]
Did you know the data portion of Digital Vehicle Inspections is the least important piece of the process? It’s about communication with the customer and using DVI as a tool to drive revenue.
remarkableresults.biz/e794
What We Can Learn From Our Dentist [RR 789]
Why is adapting to technology important? Keeping up with the latest technology is key to any successful enterprise. It is a requirement today. It increases flexibility, streamlines operations, and helps you adjust your forward progress. I’m with Chris Cloutier and Craig ONeill at ASTE 2022, and we discuss the four ‘Ts’ … technology, touch, trust, and transparency. The inspiration for this episode stemmed from Tracy receiving a video from an orthodontist’s office and how it can be easily implemented in our industry.
remarkableresults.biz/e789
Preserving Your Reputation [THA 295]
Honesty is always the best policy, but sometimes is it better to omit certain information to a customer? What if you make a mistake but make it right and eat the cost? Are there situations where you don’t divulge all that information to a customer? Let’s have an open discussion on ethics and your shop’s reputation.
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Listen and view episode notesAvocados and Automotive – Rena Rennebohm [AW 124]
Guest Host and Avocado Farm Tour with Rena Rennebohm, Owner of Casa Cielo Farms and CEO of Empowered Advisor. Find out how avocados relate to our industry.
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Listen and view episode notes“Uncopyable Sales Secrets: How to Create an Unfair Advantage and Outsell Your Competition” by Kay Miller [RR 772]
Have you thought about developing relationships with your customers and how they happen organically, intentionally, or not at all? Are your service advisors making that human connection daily? I’m joined by Kay Miller, author of “Uncopyable Sales Secrets: How to Create an Unfair Advantage and Outsell Your Competition.” Kay simplifies sales to a basic level that anyone can benefit from. In Kay’s early days in sales, she worked for Walker Exhaust and earned the moniker ‘Muffler Mama’. If you’re interested in reading a free chapter of her book, head to the show notes for the link. Or find her book on the books page on remarkableresults.biz
Listen and view episode notesAre You Selling Customer Experience or Price? [THA 284]
Price, price, price…our lives seem tied to it. And when it comes to customers, sometimes the price is the only question they feel they can ask. Instead of chalking them up as ‘price shoppers,’ are you using it as an opportunity to build a relationship and educate them on the value of your services? Many struggle with this. My panel discusses ways to make price irrelevant. Stay tuned and shift your perspective on price.
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Listen and view episode notesDo You Need an Estimator? [THA 271]
Is your service advisor stressed? Do you have a full lot of vehicles to repair but have technicians standing around? I’ve been asking shop owners if an estimator role in the business is an important hire. I got an ear full in this Academy Webinar on how the metrics work and the role and responsibilities to consider hiring an estimator or parts specialist in your growing busy shop. All three shop owners on my panel have this role in their shops. Stick around and learn.
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Listen and view episode notesThe New Frontier of Call Conversion Rates – Stan Sokes [RR 734]
The phone call from a customer is always the beginning of the relationship. Are you tracking, measuring and holding your service advisor accountable for every phone call that comes into your business? What is your phone SOP? Do you have a conversion rate for phone opportunities? I’m with Stan Stokes, founder of Iron Fist Consultants, who has created the next level of measurement for service advisors.
remarkableresults.biz/e734
Listen and view episode notesAre You Offering ‘Only’ Synthetic Oil Services? [THA 270]
Questions, what is your customer oil change service like? Have you transitioned to ‘synthetic only’ oil for your customers? How do you stock all grades and weights? The days of $20 oil changes every 3 months is gone. My panel of shop owners discuss why they have synthetic only oil service and how it’s improved their efficiency in the bays and for their customers. If you have not implemented this business strategy learn in this episode why you need to do it.
remarkableresults.biz/a270
Listen and view episode notesWhat Is The Best Thing You Can Do As An Owner? Leave! [RR 712]
Another episode recorded at AAPEX 2021. In this episode, you’ll hear from three different perspectives, a hands-off visionary owner, his partner and director of operations, and a 26 year old service director that started as a technician. Find out how these three successful businessmen work cohesively together while continuing to look toward the future. You’ll be inspired.
remarkableresults.biz/e712
Listen and view episode notesRecovering From a Wrong Service Advisor Hire [THA 256]
Recovering From a Wrong Service Advisor Hire [THA 256]
As an owner, it can be easy to want something to work out so much, you become blind to certain red flags. You also worry about the production of your business if you let someone go. What should you do? My panel shares their experience with a wrong service advisor hire and how they recovered.
remarkableresults.biz/a256
Listen and view episode notesRethink Your Compensation Plans – Darrin Barney [RR 691]
Rethink Your Compensation Plans [RR 691]
In this episode, Darrin Barney discusses an overview of a class he presented at ASTE 2021 titled “Pay Plans Used by the Top Shops in America.” Some excellent ideas and insights that every shop owner can use in their business. As your business and employees change, so should your compensation plan. Darrin also explains the importance of guiding principals, goals, and employee retention.
remarkableresults.biz/e691
Listen and view episode notesScheduling Work Flow [THA 248]
Scheduling Work Flow [THA 248]
We are living in the “new normal.” For anyone who wants things to go back the way they were pre-pandemic, you’ll be waiting a long time. Professionals everywhere are feeling the impact of shipping delays, short staff, and pricing. Our industry is no exception and efficient workflow has never been more critical. Clear communication and expectations between employees and customers is step one. In this episode, my panel shares their own experiences with scheduling workflow. Listen for some smart ideas start implementing small changes in your business that will have a lasting impact.
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Listen and view episode notesCreating Lifetime Customers – Brittany Schindler [RR 684]
Creating Lifetime Customers [RR 684]
Establishing a connection with your customers and being able to keep them coming back is always a challenge for the automotive industry. How do you build loyalty and ensure customers are educated properly? In this episode, Brittany Schindler answers that question with easy-to-follow steps her service advisors implement every day, including a lifetime warranty for customers. Keep listening and brainstorm what you could change in your business.
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Listen and view episode notesService Advisor Role Play #6 [THA 245]
Service Advisor Role Play #6 [THA 245]
You’re going to love this episode. My panel dives into a role play like we’ve never done before. Chad Jacks and Ethan Smith swap their roles interacting as a service advisor answering a phone call from a customer. They play an average service advisor and then redo the scenario as an exceptional service advisor. Rena Rennebohm offers coaching in between. Answering the phone is often the first interaction you have with a client opportunity. Are you listening to recorded calls? Do your service advisors need an occasional tune-up? This episode will help in all cases.
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Listen and view episode notesGuest Host and Shop Tour with Fred Gestwicki, Jr [AW 074]
Guest host, Fred Gestwicki, Jr. from Fix-It-With Fred in Canton, OH Owner / Master Technician. 25 Years of Automotive Experience. ASE Master Technician, Hyundai and Kia Master Technician, Mitsubishi Master Technician. Customers ask for price because they don’t know what else to ask. remarkableresults.biz/aw074
Listen and view episode notesService Advisor Must-Have Qualities [THA 234]
Service Advisor Must-Have Qualities [THA 234]
The service advisor role for the automotive industry is crucial for your business and customers. Sometimes owners try to fill that seat with a warm body without realizing the qualities and communication skills required for that position. It goes beyond being friendly and in this episode, my panel takes a deep dive from different perspectives. remarkableresults.biz/a234
Listen and view episode notesAnnual AAPEX Service Award Nominations [CC 094]
Welcome to a special CarmCast #094
Understand the role you play in recognizing our auto care industry’s top people. The AAPEX Service Awards are ready for your nomination. Find them aapexshow.com/service awards. The deadline is September 1, 2021.
Joining me is Dwayne Myers, Partner, Dynamic Automotive, and Bill Nalu, Interstate Auto Care, Madison Heights, MI. Bill and Dwyane were nominators from last year’s honors. They each had their nominee win.
This is a very important opportunity to increase the bar of professionalism in our industry. I’m sure you know someone worthy of a nomination. There are three awards in this annual recognition. Shop Owner, Technician, and Service Advisor of the year. This is the 2nd annual and the honors will be presented at AAPEX 2021.
I know you know someone worthy of a nomination. Consider your peer groups and twenty groups to nominate a shop owner of the year. Think about the dedication from your technician and service advisor that makes a great contribution to the professionalism of your business. You may be a technician and would like to nominate one of your co-workers or a friend.
Listen and view episode notesASE Service Professionals Month – Trish Serratore [Bonus 09]
I’m with Sr. VP of Communications at ASE, Trish Serratore and we discuss some why and how to jump on board with Service Professionals Month. This is a very short listen and we toss up some ideas on how to build momentum inside your community, but more important to thank your people who have invested in their ASE Certifications. There is still time to embrace and support ASE Service Professionals Month.
Listen and view episode notesBuilding Customer Trust [THA 225]
Building Customer Trust [THA 225]
We all know building customer trust takes time and doesn’t happen overnight. So when does it happen? It starts with every single touchpoint you make with your customer.
From marketing to the way your storefront looks, and that first phone call, every interaction inches you further in developing trust. Find out how to polish your business in this must-listen episode.
Listen and view episode notesComebacks: Prevention, Reputation and Cost [THA 224]
Comebacks: Prevention, Reputation and Cost [THA 224]
How closely do you track comebacks in your shop? Do you look for trends? Is it human error or communication gaps between customer and service advisor, and service advisor and technician? Sometimes the most loyal customers arise from correcting a mistake, but often times we are unaware a mistake even happened. In this episode, my panel dives into the different scenarios that occur during vehicle comebacks and how to correct them.
You can listen and/or watch the video of this episode and find the key talking points at remarkableresults.biz/a224
Listen and view episode notesLessons on 3rd Generation Family, Networking and the Front Counter- Steve Mancinelli [RR 623]
Lessons on 3rd Generation Family, Networking and the Front Counter [RR 623]
I caught up with Steve Mancinelli, AMAM, who proudly wears the scars of battle as a 3rd generation shop owner. Family business, networking, and learning how to run a great business are challenges we all face and Steve shares his many moves through the labyrinth of barriers that got him to where he is today. In his section of Denver, there have been 6 shops and 23 service bays have closed since the pandemic hit. Either they liquidated, retired, or moved due to high rent in the downtown area during the pandemic. Besides many wise thoughts, Steve talks about women at the front counter.
The key talking points reside at remarkablersults.biz/e623.
Listen and view episode notesThe Virtual Service Advisor [RR 621]
The Virtual Service Advisor [RR 621]
Amidst the pandemic scare, shops have taken advantage of VoIP, cloud services and new technologies to serve their customers. Some have had to put their service advisor working from home for various reasons. Imagine having support for your counter in the virtual world. Is there is a future for a Virtual Service Advisor?
Our guest today, Robbie Bunch became a virtual service advisor because of the pandemic and has excelled at it. His previous experience helped make this a reality for a shop he supports. Not only is Robbie Bunch doing Virtual Service Advisor work for a shop he continues to work for his other business “Platform Digital Marketing.”
Robbie and I toss out the idea of creating an entire industry of Virtual Service Advisors to support shops when your business is growing but not in need of a full-timer or when you lose a Service Advisor and while you are looking to hire a new person to rely on a Virtual Service Advisor to take up the slack. This episode will get you thinking.
The key talking points reside at remarkablersults.biz/e621.
Listen and view episode notesService Advisor Role Play #5 [THA 213]
Service Advisor Role Play #5 [THA 213]
Our role play subjects cover closing the expectation gap on the appointment setting call and understanding the importance of building anticipation in making the sale after the results of the DVI. We also covered how to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Service Advisor in calming the customer while building value in their services and retaining the sale. Lastly, we talked about the effective way in deferring services at the cash-out. All important and vital in building you or service advisor team.
The panel includes Clint White from Shop Vision, Dan McWilliams from Quality Service Center and Ben Lesueur from Oxford Automotive. They put their service advisor strategies for you to follow.
Find ways to compare and improve your confidence and comfort in the face of your customer. Together we have something here. This episode’s key talking points are already done for you. Find them at remarkableresults.biz/a213
Listen and view episode notesStop Selling From Your Wallet [THA 208]
THA 208 Stop Selling From Your Wallet
Too many times we think about our own money tolerance instead of the customer needs. We think what others believe is a lot of money to us is not. We also can’t fathom people paying what they do for services because we would not. We have different lines in the sand when it comes to price perception and if you sell from your own wallet you’ll limit yourself, do what is not necessarily right for your customer and limit your potential, not only for yourself but for the business.
In other words, don’t make the decision for your customer. Let them decide. We play a really insightful game that you need to do with your team.
I’m with Brian Gillis of You Net Results, who brought this excellent topic and the neat game we play, also Andy Arndt of Arndt Automotive in Malta, IL. And Keith Knowlton of LKS Auto Repair, Bremerton, Wa. They bring sound, practical, and professional advice for all of us to stop selling from our own wallets. Too many times we think about our own money tolerance instead of the customer’s needs.
This episode’s key talking points are already done for you. They reside on the show notes page at remarkableresults.biz/a208.
Listen and view episode notes